Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Hearth ("we," "our," or "us") is a private social platform designed for household members and close friends. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, and protect your personal information when you use our platform.

By creating an account or using Hearth, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Account Information

When you register, we collect:

• Your name
• Email address
• Password (stored securely using industry-standard hashing)
• Profile image (optional)

2.2 Content You Create

We store content you voluntarily share on the platform, including:

• Feed posts, comments, and reactions
• Photos and photo albums
• Poll responses
• Trip plans, itineraries, and packing lists
• Calendar events and RSVPs

2.3 Automatically Collected Information

When you use Hearth, we may automatically collect:

• IP address and browser user agent (for session management)
• Push notification subscription details (if you opt in)
• Usage timestamps (account creation, last login)

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information solely to:

• Provide and maintain the Hearth platform
• Authenticate your identity and manage sessions
• Send you notifications you have opted into (email verification, push notifications)
• Enable social features (sharing content with other household members)

We do not use your information for advertising, profiling, or any purpose unrelated to operating Hearth.

4. Data Sharing and Disclosure

Hearth is a private, self-hosted platform. We do not sell, rent, or share your personal information with third parties except:

• With other platform members: Content you post is visible to other authorized users of your Hearth instance.
• Service providers: We may use third-party services for email delivery and authentication (e.g., Google OAuth). These providers only receive the minimum information necessary to perform their function.
• Legal requirements: We may disclose information if required by law or to protect the rights, safety, or property of our users.

5. Data Storage and Security

Your data is stored on infrastructure controlled by the platform administrator. We employ industry-standard security measures including:

• Encrypted passwords using secure hashing algorithms
• HTTPS encryption for all data in transit
• Session-based authentication with secure token management
• Two-factor authentication (optional)

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active. If you wish to delete your account, contact the platform administrator. Upon account deletion, your personal data will be removed, though some content you shared with others may persist in group contexts.

7. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you
• Correct inaccurate personal information
• Request deletion of your account and associated data
• Opt out of push notifications at any time
• Export your data upon request

8. Cookies and Local Storage

Hearth uses essential cookies and local storage for authentication and session management. We do not use tracking cookies, analytics cookies, or any third-party advertising cookies.

9. Children's Privacy

Hearth is a private, invite-only platform. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 13. If a parent or guardian becomes aware that their child has provided personal information without consent, please contact the platform administrator.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date. Continued use of the platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

11. Contact

For questions about this Privacy Policy or to exercise your data rights, contact the platform administrator.